InFocus M-300 - Manual

Setting the Drivers Properties ................................................................................... 4-3 Downloading the File ............................................................................................... 4-3 Starting the Engraving Process.................................

SECTION 1 Safety This section describes hazards that may occur if the laser system is installed or used improperly. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in injury to yourself, others, or may cause severe damage to the equipment. Use, misuse, or abuse of the equipment in a manner other than ...

1-2 Safety • Care should be taken when moving or lifting this device . Obtain assistance from 1 or 2 additional people when lifting or carrying. Severe bodily injury may occur if improper lifting techniques are applied. Be careful not to drop the unit. Not only can it cause bodily harm, but it can a...

Safety 1-3 Safety Labels CDRH and CE regulations require all laser manufacturers to affix warning labels in specific locations throughout the equipment. The following warning labels are placed on the laser system for your safety. DO NOT remove them for any reason. If the labels become damaged or hav...

1-4 Safety F G H Rear View (cover closed) (A) (B) (C) Or (D) CAUTION LASER RADIATION DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM OR VIEW DIRECTLY WITH OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS CLASS 3A LASER PRODUCT LASER DIODE WAVELENGTH: 630-680 nm MAX. OUTPUT: 5 mW (D) (E) (F) (G) CDRH – United States CE - European

Safety 1-5 I Upper left corner of the engraving area next to the Beam Window (H) (I) (J) SERIAL #: 02500A DATE : MAY 2000 (K) (L) CAUTION LASER RADIATION AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION CLASS 4 LASER CO 2 LASER (AND OPTIONAL LASER DIODE) WAVELENGTH: 10.6 MAX. OUTPUT: 150 ...

1-6 Safety FCC Compliance This ULS laser system has been tested and found to comply with Federal Communication Commission (FCC) directives regarding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). In accordance with these directives ULS is required to provide the following information to its customers. FCC Com...

Safety 1-7 EU Compliance (CE) EU Declaration of Conformity L A S E R S Y S T E M S I N C . Product Identification : M-300 Platform Manufacturer : Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 N. 81 st St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 USA Universal Laser Systems, Inc. hereby declares that the equipment specified below...

SECTION 2 Installation Proper operating conditions are vital to a safe and productive environment. This section describes the ideal environment and setup of the laser system. Operating Environment Follow these guidelines to ensure a proper operating environment for the laser system. Operating the la...

2-2 Installation • If planning to connect the laser engraving system to a computer through the parallel port, choose a location where the computer will be placed within 6 feet of the machine since this is the maximum recommended parallel cable length. Included with your system is a high quality, IEE...

Installation 2-3 If electrical power fluctuations, brown outs, or constant power outages are a problem in your area, an electrical line stabilizer, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), or backup generator might be required. If installing any of these devices, make sure that they meet the electrical r...

Installation 2-5 Cart Assembly Since packaging of this unit may vary from time to time, make sure that you locate the following items from within the crate or inside of the front door of the system: (A) Back Panel (B) Legs (both are identical) (C) 10-32 x 3/8 socket head screws with lock washers and...

Installation 2-7 Laser Cartridge Installation Before connecting and powering on your system, you must install the Laser Cartridge. Make sure that your power cord IS NOT plugged in at this time. With your fingers, press on the backside of the two hinges to release the latch. Gently fold back the rear...

Installation 2-9 Laser Cooling Requirements This type of laser system uses fans to keep the laser cartridge and electronics cooled during operation. Maintain the room temperature at the recommended ambient temperature range outlined previously in the Operating Environment section. Computer Requireme...

2-10 Installation Bitmap / Scanning Software • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Streamline - for raster to vector conversion CAD Software • AutoCAD for Windows • AutoCAD LT for Windows • Autosketch for Windows • DesignCAD for Windows CAD users do not necessarily need Windows or Windows compatible programs. T...

Installation 2-11 Making the Connections Please use the parallel cable supplied with the system. It is a 6-foot, high quality, shielded, IEEE1284 compliant cable. If you use a printer cable other than the one provided, it will violate the laser systems FCC and CE rating and may also cause harmful in...

2-12 Installation Problem Prevention The following are things that you MUST NEVER do: 1) Never connect or disconnect the printer cable while either the computer or the laser system is powered ON . Always power down both units and leave them plugged into the wall outlet when connecting or disconnecti...

SECTION 3 System Operation In this section you will learn how the laser system actually works and will familiarize you with laser system terminology. We will then start working with the control panel and learn how to get around in the menu system. Since there are many features in this laser system, ...

3-2 System Operation Laser Cartridge The laser cartridge is a very sophisticated device. It is composed of a plasma tube filled with a special mixture of CO2 and other gases, and RF (radio frequency) electronics. The function of the entire assembly is to turn electrical energy into concentrated ligh...

System Operation 3-3 “Wattage” signifies the amount of heat energy that the laser light is producing over a period of time. Laser energy is measured with a laser power meter. Do not confuse the electrical wattage rating of a light bulb or a hair dryer with the wattage rating of the laser system. The...

System Operation 3-7 The Menu System The LCD displays the menus of the laser system. Since this laser system has many features, we have included a “Menu System Flow Chart” on the next three pages. It diagrams and displays the menu items in the entire system and the button selections needed to access...

System Operation 3-9 MODEL NAME VERSION XX-XX-XX-XX Menu Descriptions The remainder of this section will describe each one of the menus and their significance. READY Menu When the system is first powered on “INITIALIZING” will appear for approximately 30 seconds until the laser system finishes perfo...

3-12 System Operation The Printer Driver compresses the file while it downloads to the laser system and the laser system decompresses the file while it runs. The amount of compression can be as little as 4 to 1 or as great as 48 to 1. This means that with 4 MB of RAM in the laser system, the buffer ...

System Operation 3-21 Setting a new origin other than the default (0,0) position will shrink your field size. If you already have files already loaded into memory that utilize the entire engraving area, and you set a new origin, part of that graphic might fall out of the effective printing area. If ...

SECTION 4 Running the System Step by Step In this section we will cover how to completely use the laser system to create a product from start to finish. From powering on everything to removing the finished product from the system, we will cover the entire process step by step. As an example, let’s e...

4-2 Running the System Step by Step Focusing Before attempting to adjust the focal height, visually check to make sure that the table is down low enough to prevent the focus carriage from hitting into the piece of wood. With the top door still open, press the “Z” button on the control panel of the l...

Running the System Step by Step 4-3 It does not matter whether you bring the table up to go out of focus, or down, the effect is the same. You should experiment on some scrap material at another time and note the difference. In this example, we will engrave in precise focus. Once you have establishe...

4-4 Running the System Step by Step Find the “PRINT” command within your graphics program and click on it. Depending on which graphics program you are using, the menu command “PRINT” may be in various locations within your program. Usually after clicking on “PRINT”, you will then need to click on “O...

Running the System Step by Step 4-5 We will also remind you again to please comply with the warning label below. Material Removing and Reloading Once the laser system has completed processing you material, the laser beam will turn off, the motion system will move to its home position in the upper ri...

SECTION 5 Options & Accessories There are several options and accessories available for this laser system. The new 3D Effects option is now available as a standard feature. The Rotary Fixture, Cutting Table, Air Assist System, Air Assist Compressor, various Focus Lens Kits, and the Dual Head opt...

5-2 Options & Accessories 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 COMPUTER GRAPHICS SCREEN GRAPHICS SOFTWARE PAGE LAYOUT 11 INCHES ( 292.1 mm) WIDE8.5 INCHES ( 215.9 mm) TALL LANDSCAPE MODE Ac tio n S po rts E qu ip me nt 10 0 E as y S tre et # 11 7 Pla in vi lle , K S 9 99 24 PREVIOU...

Options & Accessories 5-5 In the laser systems printer driver, use the same settings as the previous example but with only minor modifications. In the “3D Effects” tab, select all three “Special” options; “Add Shoulder”, “Print as Negative Image” and “Print as Mirror Image” as the diagram below ...

5-6 Options & Accessories The Rotary Fixture is placed on the engraving table as the following diagram illustrates. Please refer to the instructions supplied with the Rotary Fixture on how to properly install and use this option. Cutting Table The purpose of the Cutting Table is to support the m...

Options & Accessories 5-7 Air Assist System The Air Assist System consists of a nozzle that attaches to the focus carriage, Optics protection adapters, tubing, mounting brackets, needle valve, and pressure gauge. The purpose of this system is to force air or other types of gases directly onto th...

5-8 Options & Accessories Focus Lens Kits There are three optional Focus Lens Kits available other than the standard 2.0”, they are the 1.5”, 2.5”, and the 4.0” kits. Included in these kits are the focus lens, #3 mirror, front plate, thumbscrews, and a focus tool. Different lenses produce differ...

SECTION 6 Sample Materials This section provides sample driver settings and helpful hints to get started engraving and/or cutting the materials listed. Safety NEVER LEAVE THE LASER SYSTEM RUNNING UNATTENDED FOR ANY REASON. Exposure to the laser beam can cause ignition of combustible materials. All l...

6-2 Sample Materials NOTICE Laser engraving or cutting materials other than those described in this manual can be a safety hazard and can damage the laser system. The laser system operator is liable for any damages caused, in whole or in part, for any economic loss, physical injury, lost revenue, lo...

Sample Materials 6-3 NOTE When engraving very small objects, top speed cannot be achieved because acceleration and deceleration of the motion system requires time and distance. The laser system will automatically adjust itself to a maximum engraving speed that it can achieve due to the size and posi...

6-12 Sample Materials DELRIN (SEAL PRESS) RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PPI PASS DEPTH 15 100 18 500 1 .015” 20 100 23 500 1 .015” 25 100 29 500 1 .015” 30 100 35 500 1 .015” 35 100 41 500 1 .015” 40 100 47 500 1 .015” 45 100 53 500 1 .015” 50 100 58 500 1 .015” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WAT...

SECTION 7 Maintenance Keeping the laser system clean will ensure the highest quality engraving. The frequency of cleaning will depend entirely on the type of material being engraved, the performance of your exhaust blower, the operating environment, and the amount of laser system usage over a given ...

Maintenance 7-3 System Cleaning • Turn off and unplug the laser system. • Open the Top Door and thoroughly remove all loose dirt and debris from inside the machine with a vacuum cleaner. • Clean the Engraving Table surface with either a soap solution, alcohol, or acetone, and paper towels. NEVER pou...

Maintenance 7-7 Adjustments and Lubrication There are no periodic adjustments required. The bearings in the motion system will self adjust to take up any clearances as they begin to wear. The belts are fiber reinforced and will not stretch under normal use so that periodic tension adjustment is not ...

7-8 Maintenance Cooling Fan Filters This air-cooled laser system will require periodic cleaning of the cooling fan filters. Since ambient air is used to cool the laser tube, the air must be filtered before it enters the inside of the laser system otherwise dirt and dust can build up inside of the la...

SECTION 8 Troubleshooting Engraving Quality Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution “Fuzzy” looking raster engraving or small text appears like a “double image” • Dirty laser system • Graphic, graphic software, graphic software setup, color palette, monitor display colors, or driver settings have c...

8-4 Troubleshooting Operational Focus carriage looses X-axis position and slams into the left or right side o f the rail during high speed raster engraving • Mechanical interference • Dirty laser system • CPU overheating • Focus carriage X-axis bearing tensioning arm too tight or binding If the patt...

Appendix A - Limited Warranty Please refer to the Warranty Registration Form included with your shipment. Ihr ULS Vertragshändler : MarkIDent GmbH Winterspürerstr. 19 78333 Stockach www.markident.de

Appendix B - Specifications Model Number M-300 Resolution 1000 x 1000 DPI, 500 x 500 DPI, 333 x 333 DPI, 250 x 250 DPI 200 x 200 DPI, Draft Computer Interface Windows 95, 98, and HPGL Table Size 29” x 17” (736.6 mm x 431.8mm) Work Area 24” x 12” (609.6 x 304.8 mm) Maximum Part Size 29” (736.6mm) wid...

Appendix C - Using DOS Based Programs DOS software is not standardized and each application will work differently. When using DOS applications, it is not possible to print through the Windows Printer Driver and for this situation, the system has been designed to automatically emulate a Hewlett Packa...

Appendix D - Using Macintosh Computers The laser system has primarily been designed to run under the Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system. There is no Macintosh Driver available for this Platform at this time, however, there may be one in the future. Once in awhile you might want to log on to o...

Appendix F - How To Get Help Step 1: Determine exactly what the problem is. Refer to “Section 8 – Troubleshooting” for a possible solution. Step 2: Try to recreate the problem and write down the circumstances in which the problem occurred. Be prepared to describe all pertinent information about the ...